Members of the Episcopal community gathered last week to celebrate an exciting new project – the Episcopal Athletic Field House. Students, donors, school leadership, staff and cheerleaders were on hand for the official groundbreaking ceremony that marks the beginning of construction on the first new athletic building on campus since 1982.

The field house is slated to be a multi-use facility where students of all ages can take physical education classes, participate in strength training and prepare for interscholastic sports. The building boasts 22,637 square feet of space for weight training, cardio training, individual sport locker rooms, coaching offices and collaboration spaces, conference rooms, classrooms, a concession stand, a sports medicine and training area and more.

Erecting a new building on campus would not be possible without the commitment and support of the entire Episcopal community. We were honored to have an array of members representing the Episcopal community participate in the groundbreaking. Participants included: Cameron Dumas ʼ18, 2018 Male Athlete of the Year; Adam Fishbien and Jennifer Price, GraceHebert Architects; Katheryn Flournoy, Board Chair; Gwen Graves ʼ88, Field House Lead Donor and Trustee; Todd Graves ʼ90, Field House Lead Donor and Spirit • Mind • Body Campaign Co-Chair; Ainsley Grigsby ʼ92, Leadership Donor; Victoria Guarisco, Leadership Donor; Hunter Heaslip ʼ18, 2018 Female Athlete of the Year; John Kojis, Director of Operations; Hugh McIntosh, Head of School; Randy Richard, Athletic Director and Robert Ward, Cangelosi Ward General Contractors. For a full list of field house donors click here

We are especially grateful for our field house lead donors Todd ʼ90 and Gwen ʼ88 Graves. The couple, who are Episcopal alumni and parents of current Episcopal students, have generously stepped forward with a tremendous contribution to make the field house a reality. Gwen reiterated that the new facility will serve students from PreK-3 to Upper School and that it truly is a necessity for students and coaches. Todd, who is also the campaign co-chair, recognized the coaches in attendance saying the field house is dedicated to them and the work they do. “Coaches had just as much or even more of an impact on me as my teachers,” the former quarterback and track athlete shared. He went on to say that he learned the value of hard work, respect, leadership and teamwork thanks to the Episcopal coaches.

At Episcopal, we strive to serve the whole child, from spirituality and academics to athletics and the arts. Such an ambitious project as a new field house is needed to better serve our students, who excel in multiple arenas while maintaining academic excellence. This school year, the Knights fielded 62 varsity and sub-varsity teams, with more than 80% of Middle and Upper School students participating in at least one sport. Multiple teams advanced to state-level competitions and several athletes plan to continue their athletic careers into college. Our students truly are thriving on and off the field.